Swansea’s twelfth annual Dylan Thomas Festival focuses not only on Thomas’ work, but that of his friends, contemporaries and those inspired by him.
This year’s Festival is dedicated to the memory of Aeronwy Thomas Ellis, only daughter of Dylan and Caitlin Thomas, who died on 27 July 2009.
Aeronwy was a great supporter of the festival, and of all the work of the Dylan Thomas Centre.
The Centre has always been very committed to the encouragement and development of local talent, and in Aeronwy’s memory, this year’s festival has a particularly strong emphasis on Swansea’s own considerable contingent of writers, as well as other names from the rest of Wales and beyond.
The celebration will feature an eclectic mix of poetry, prose, drama, film, exhibitions, talks and special guests, with at least one event every day.
There will be events on writers such as Lynette Roberts and Alun Richards, a celebration of Richard Burton, and the premiere of a play about Lloyd George.
We look at two writers who influenced Dylan – Shakespeare and W.B.Yeats - and those who were influenced by him, like the late Poet Laureate Ted Hughes.
Performers include Dannie Abse, Peter Finch, Cerys Matthews, Owen Sheers, Deryn Rees-Jones, Stevie Davies, Fflur Dafydd, Nigel Jenkins, Menna Elfyn and Rhian Edwards.
The full programme and tickets will be available from mid September.
For more information, please email dylanthomas.lit@
